The following resolution passed at the UAWD Membership Meeting held on March 12, 2023.
Whereas:
- Article III, Section 1 of the UAWD Bylaws states that UAWD “reserves the right to exclude those who are opposed to the principles within these bylaws.”
- UAWD members have undermined the principles and efforts of UAWD, including through targeting rank-and-file members at their Locals, and using their position to retaliate against other UAWD members.
- These members have sometimes cited their UAWD membership in making endorsements against UAWD-endorsed candidates, thereby undermining UAWD’s organizing efforts.
- Setting a rescindment policy, based on the provision in our Bylaws, with a sufficiently high bar to ensure it can’t be misused for smaller issues, will serve to discourage UAWD members from violating the policy in the first place.
- Having such a rescindment policy may also preemptively discourage people who intend to undermine or co-opt UAWD from ever joining.
Be it Resolved: That UAWD adopt the policy below, under Article III, Section 1 of our Bylaws:
Membership Rescindment:
1. Criteria: For rescindment of a member’s UAWD membership to occur, one or more of the following criteria should be identified and proven:
a. During or directly prior to an election, actively campaigning for, endorsing, or publicly supporting a candidate who is running against a formally UAWD-endorsed candidate. This does not include voting for such a candidate without publicly supporting them;
b. Taking action in any capacity, including as UAW International staff, Local leadership, or as a member of the International Executive Board, that materially undermines rank-and-file democracy. Examples include tampering with an election or membership vote, failing to hold required membership or Joint Council meetings, failing to provide equal access to membership lists during elections or ratification votes, or failing to make required financial disclosures;
c. Retaliating against UAWD members for being a member of our caucus. Examples include revoking member access to meetings, withholding information given to membership, undermining membership access to contractual grievance procedures, using UAWD spaces to intimidate members from bringing forth issues to UAWD; or
d. Any other action, including but not limited to those described above, that may result in a detrimental impact on the membership of UAWD.
2. Process: In order for rescindment of a UAWD member to be considered at a membership meeting, the following process must occur:
a. A petition must be submitted to the Steering Committee signed by at least ten (10) UAWD members requesting rescindment of a member and detailing how the member has met the criteria above. Until step iv below, the names of the petitioners should be kept confidential, except from the SC, if the petitioners request.
b. At this stage, the process will proceed unless a 2/3 vote of the Steering Committee dismisses it. In this case, the petitioners should be informed by the Steering Committee of why it is being dismissed.
c. The Steering Committee must contact the member who has been identified for membership rescindment and ask if they would like to voluntarily suspend their membership. If they do so, no further action should be taken.
d. If the member identified for membership rescindment declines, the Steering Committee should identify a sub-committee to prepare a report of the members’ possible activities that meet the criteria above. This report should contain the entirety of the initial petition, including the full list of signatories.
e. This report will be presented at the next regularly scheduled quarterly membership meeting, provided that meeting is at least twenty one (21) days from the time the original petition was received, otherwise it will be presented at the subsequent meeting. The member being considered for rescindment should be given at least fourteen (14) days notice that this will occur and should be given a chance to submit a rebuttal to the report. Both should be distributed prior to the meeting.
3. Final Rescindment Decision: Upon presentation of a report on rescindment of a member at a membership meeting, the member will be given an opportunity to speak. A motion on rescindment of the member will then be considered, with members being given the chance to speak for and against. A two-thirds (2/3) vote at a membership meeting is required for membership rescindment.
4. Rejoining after Rescindment: Six (6) months after membership rescindment, a member may apply to rejoin UAWD through submission of a petition to the Steering Committee, detailing how they have addressed the criteria that were identified as the cause for their membership rescindment. Any member who has had their membership rescinded and wishes to rejoin UAWD must appear to make their case at a UAWD membership meeting and must be approved by a majority vote at that meeting.